Polygala sipapoana Wurdack
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett, et al. 1953. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (2): 87-160.
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Family
Polygalaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Radix parva fibrosa. Caulis simplex vel ad apicem ramosus, ad 3.5 dm. longus, striatus, glaber. Folia lineari-oblonga vel lineari-obovata, acuminata vel obtusa sparse pellucido-punctata glabra 5-8 mm. longa 1.3-2.5 mm. lata, inferiora subverticillata superiora alterna. Racemi capitati vel breviter cylindrici 6-13 mm. longi et lati, floribus inferioribus dilapsis saepe ad 40 mm. elongati, sub racemo florente pedunculo incrassato. Flores rosei 4.5-5.0 mm. longi pedicellis 0.6-1.0 mm. longis. Sepala inaequalia; superiore ovato-elliptico obtuso vel breviter obtuso-apiculato 1.7-1.9 mm. longo 0.9-1.2 mm. lato, ad basim 4-8 maculas croceas gerenti; duo inferiora obtusa elliptica 1.2-1.3 mm longa 0.5-0.6 mm lata, ad basim maculas duas croceas gerentia; alae late ovatae vel ovato-ellipticae obtusae 4.1-4.4 rnm. longae 2.9-3-1 mm. latae 3- mox 4-5-nerviae ad basim 1-3 maculas croceas gerentes. Petala lateralia 3.3-3.5 mm. longa 1.0-1.2 mm. lata ad carinam 1/3-adhaerentia; carina angusta ca. 3-5 mm. longa (crista inclusa) infra cristam croceo-maculata, crista e lobis 7-jugis, jugis ca. 1.2 mm. longis. Capsula ovato-elliptica obtusa haud ernarginata ad septum croceo-maculata 2.5-2.9 mm. longa 1.6-1.9 mm. lata; semen conicum in maturitate brunneo-sericeo-comosum estrophiolatum 2.2-2.6 mm. longum (coma inclusa), coma 0.5-0.7 mm. longa.
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Discussion
TYPE: annual with pale to dark purple flowers, occasional, upper East Basin, Cerro Sipapo, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, alt. 1800 m., Jan. 14, 1949, Bassett Maguire & Louis Politi 28352; New York Botanical Garden. Paratype: purple flowered annual from wet places, Camp Savanna, alt. 1500 m., Dec. 6, 1948, Maguire & Politi 27533.
Closely related to three widespread species, P. longicaulis HBK., P. variabilis HBK., and P. adenophora DC, but resembling superficially the first of these most closely. From the first-mentioned species, P. sipapoana may be distinguished by the broadly ovate soon 4-5-nerved non-cuspidate wings and obtuse to bluntly mucronate upper outer sepal; from the second, it differs in the broader leaves and larger flowers; from both, P. sipapoana may be separated by the large ornate crest of 7 rather than 3-4 pairs of lobes and the estrophiolate seeds. P. adenophora differs in having narrower leaves, narrowly elliptic alae, and a much larger keel which exceeds the wings.